I'm here! Saint Jean Pied de Port. It feels a bit like home having started my Camino here in 2013 and visiting a year later and hiking the first 5 miles to Orrison and back. It seemed so far away physically and emotionally a week ago when I was struggling so much with an impossible trail, rain and mud along with being alone in a small French town.
Back on the Way
In front on my Gîte in Saint Jean
I made it! All 752km + some (466 miles)
Pilgrims office in Saint Jean
I lit a candle for myself in the cathedral here. I had a "moment"
Sign out of Saint Jean to the next very hard step over the Pyranees
I continued a day at a time and with the thoughts and encouragement of you back home; able to be here. Thank you. I feel like I have got what I needed to, allow for some physical and emotional healing to take place. I've dropped some weight and feel a bit more resilient against adversary. I've regained my confidence for biking and the ability to do some real mt. biking instead of just making do with roads. While the last 2 days have been on the road rather than the trail, riding with Helmut pushed us both to put in full days riding to make it to Saint Jean. We were able and maybe wanting a bit to jump back on the trail this morning. In a bit of irony, we hit two places of short hike-a-bike. Nothing like the conditions I faced early on, but a reminder of what I went through to get here.
I don't know yet where I'm going from here; whether to continue on the Way or not. I'm going to take a day off here and think it over. Thank you all for your thoughts and support.
Buen Camino
Dave
This guy in a Citroën 2CV honked at us and cheered us on as we were reaching the top of s huge hill.
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